Edward Kendall

2026 Election Candidate

Environmental

Coldstream's Official Community Plan focuses on directing growth to designated “growth areas” while limiting development in “rural protection areas.”

a) Under what conditions do you think Council should make exceptions to this growth strategy?

b) Please give local examples of 'good' and 'not good' building development in Coldstream, and state why.

a) Obviously there a housing needed as long its affordable and attainable. As long as the proposed building site sits beside an established growth area and can be developed without impacting or compromising agricultural land. Water capacity should be a major test.

b) One good example is Coldstream Meadows Retirement Community as it serves a commuity need - housing and services for seniors rather than simply adding another subdivision of conventional houses.

Coldstream has experienced significant climate impacts for the last few years. How do you propose to address these crises, both in preparing ahead for disasters like drought, wildfires, heat domes and floods, as well as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that lead to climate change?

Drought and wildfires are connected. We need to conserve water, protect our watersheds, reduce leakage and first and foremost, we need to improve and expand water storage. We must have contingency plans for prolonged drought or wildfires.

We can reduce our emissions while saving tax payers money. We need to ensure our municipal building nd facilities are energy efficient as they can be with LED lighting and effecient equipment. We should encourage energy-efficient new construction. We should be protecting trees, wetlands and natural areas.

Preparedness is about making sure Coldstream is ready on how to deal with the next disastor beforehand.

Do you support the use of public funds to contribute to acquiring natural lands for environmental conservation purposes? Under what conditions would the perceived need for more housing, businesses, roads and other infrastructure prompt you to trade away natural lands with high ecological value for urban expansion?

Yes since it can be an important investment Coldstream's long term environmental, economic and community resilience.

As long as Coldstream is transparent on its its responsibility to ensuring the areas can be safely and effeciently services while making better use of existing developed land and infrastrucure wherever possible.

Drought, contamination, increasing demand are just some of the water issues. What actions would you prioritise to protect our creeks, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater for home and agricultural water sources, habitat for fish and wildlife, and human recreation?

We need prioritize preventing contramination at the souce. Which in turn meaning to strengthening protection for wetlands, recharge areas and watersheds. We also need to improve stormwater management, reducing runoff from roads, farms and developed areas. We need to be ensuring septic systems, wastewater systems and industrial activities are properly monitores and maintained.

Social

In smaller communities, we need to be creative in how we help one another; how do you see the role of local government in this?

Local governments should not do everything on its own. Council should be the connector. We should be reaching out to local businesses, community organizations, service clubs, residents and neighboring communities and see what can we accomplish if we work together. I've spent 30 years in hospitality and have owned and operated a local business for years. Relationships matter. We need to listen, communicate, find common ground and follow through. We need our council to work with the community, not above it,

How do we tackle misinformation and growing distrust in local government as well as uncivil behaviour on social media and in person?

We don't rebuild trust by telling its citizens to trust government, we rebuild it by giving people reasons to trust it. We must make transparency the default. Coldstream council has recently failed in that area which brought upon a protest of neighbors. The citizens of Coldstream need to be made aware of what council is deciding, why is it being considered, what it costs and who will be affected.

Social media shouldn't become the only place residents interact with their government. I would support community town halls, informal sessions, neighborhood meetings, public information sessions on controversial iss uses so it allows the people of Coldstream to ask question directly of staff and the council.

Cultural

Describe what arts and culture are in the Coldstream area from your perspective, and how do you think local government should support these features of our community?

Arts and culture helps create a sense of community, identity and belonging. There are several opportunities that have been displayed in Polson Park the previous weekend of talented artists, musicians, performers local organizations and people who simply have a passion for bringing people together.

Is the current structure of funding for arts & culture and recreation, which is currently through the RDNO, working for Coldstream? Why or why not?

This is a tough one for me as my property taxes went up $500 for 2026 with no clear explanation. There is a $17.30 expense for a "theatre" and I had to ask a councillor for Vernon what that was for and it was for the Vernon Cultural Center. As for Coldstream residents, I would like to know how much Coldstream contributes, where that money goes and how many Coldstream residents acutally use those services.

Economic

What is your understanding of how small local governments can support our economic development, including the success of our small local businesses?

For the role of Coldstream Council, it shopuld be making it easier to open, operated and grow a business. Enough of the red tape. Council should permits to flow at a timely manner. Council should be communicating even more with business owners before decisions are made.

What is one action the municipality should take to strengthen our local food system and improve access to healthy, affordable food? Why that action?

We shold be strengthening and expanding opportunites for local farmers, growers and food producers to sell directly to people in our community. We should not be pricing the rental space so high like Kal Tire Place is doing, that they cannot make a decent profit. Helping local food system keeps more money in our local economy.

Health

As Mayor / Councilor, how would you work to attract and retain medical professionals in Coldstream?

Even though Coldstream has no clinics within itself but we are a very close proximity to Vernon that does have it. Saying that, we need to promote Coldstream to all medical professionals that our community has a lot to offer. We have the beautiful Kalamalka Lake, recreation, school, a very safe community and a high quality of life.

How will you ensure that our planning of our built environment, our programs and our policies support the diverse physical and mental health needs of our population?

We must need to to recognize that health needs are different for seniors, families, youth, and people with disabilites. Our policies should reflect that. Its about building a community where people can live safely, stay connected, remain active and feel that they belong.